If that proves to be true, the club faces two huge questions: what will be the terms of his exit, and who steps in to replace him?
His future at the club is in serious doubt after a controversial interview following the 3–3 draw with Leeds United and if he is going to stay, they must salvage the relationship very quickly.
Salah is fed up after being left on the bench and says he has been “thrown under the bus”. He claims his relationship with manager Arne Slot has collapsed. As a result, he has been left out of Liverpool’s Champions League squad to face Inter Milan.
Slot has responded to Salah’s remarks and appears genuinely puzzled about how the situation has deteriorated so sharply from the player’s perspective. There is a clear sense of bewilderment around the manager and his camp.
Whether Salah truly believes there is an agenda against him or if he has simply run out of patience with Slot remains unclear.
What is certain is that this is a dramatic and unsettling development, leading to his exclusion from the side.
The coming days will determine whether Salah has any future at the club and, if that is to be the case, the player must perform a U-turn on his public statements.
If Salah shows willingness, he could stay. Yet, as of Tuesday evening, sources admitted it is uncertain whether Slot will reinstate him for the weekend’s match against Brighton & Hove Albion, his final club fixture before leaving for AFCON.
Salah has hinted that he has asked his mother to attend the game, suggesting it could be his last appearance for Liverpool.
Sources acknowledge there is a realistic possibility that Salah has already played his last game under this manager, though, unless significant progress is made in repairing the relationship over the next few days.
As reported last week by Flashscore, Salah’s situation has increased expectations that he could become the next global star to move to Saudi Arabia - a scenario now viewed as a genuine option for January.
A transfer fee will be more difficult to discuss now than in previous times. Out of form and now lashing out against his own club, Liverpool have will not be in a strong position to negotiate the value, and Saudi clubs have become less willing to shell out big transfer fees, preferring to reward players financially instead.
There could yet be the possibility of having his contract terminated - similar to Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United in 2022.
Ronaldo agreed to end his contract after an interview with Piers Morgan in which he criticised both the club and manager. Although his deal was due to run until June, United chose to terminate it early after he claimed the club had made “zero progress” since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
Salah’s latest comments are not too far removed from Ronaldo’s, raising the question that he may face a similar outcome if relations at Liverpool cannot be repaired.
Slot has to protect his own position at a time when Salah is clearly frustrated and angry. The Egyptian forward is aware he could earn around £150 million per year in Saudi Arabia - but for now, he remains Liverpool’s highest-paid player on £400,000-a-week.
Time will tell whether the exit strategy conversation is truly needed - but it is plausible at a time when it is difficult to see how Slot can reintegrate him and still hold control and respect within the squad.
Liverpool are expected to pursue £65 million Antoine Semenyo if Salah departs, and the Bournemouth player is interested.
But the coming days will determine first whether the Salah situation can be resolved.
